Going 24/7 is a game-changer for Australian gym owners. But the insurance questions it creates can be overwhelming. What's an "unstaffed endorsement"? Am I covered if someone tailgates? What's the real risk?

The problem is, generalist brokers often don't know the answers. Because they don't understand the fitness industry, they may sell you a "cheap" policy that's completely useless for an unstaffed facility.

To get you the right answers, we sat down with our principal risk adviser at Gym Insurance Brokers, Graham Slater. With 50 years in the martial arts and fitness industry and over 35 years of experience running his own clubs and gyms, Graham has seen it all. Here are his expert answers to your most pressing 24/7 questions.

Q1: "My general business insurance includes Public Liability. Isn't that enough to cover a 24/7 gym?"

Graham: "Absolutely not. This is the single most dangerous assumption an owner can make. A standard Public Liability policy is written with the assumption that your business is staffed and supervised. The moment you lock the door and let members in unstaffed, you have fundamentally changed your business's risk profile.

Most general policies will have an 'unsupervised' or 'unstaffed' exclusion clause. This means that while your policy might cover a slip-and-fall during your 9-5 staffed hours, it will give your insurer grounds to deny the exact same claim if it happens at 2 AM. You need a specific 'unstaffed access' endorsement, period."

Q2: "Okay, so what is an 'unstaffed access endorsement'? What does it actually require?"

Graham: "This is the most important part of your policy. It's the 'contract' between you and the insurer, and it lays out the minimum safety requirements you must have in place. If you breach this contract, you're not covered.

While it varies slightly, almost every Australian insurer will mandate:

1. 24/7 Monitored CCTV: Covering all exits and active training zones.
2. Secure Access Control: A swipe-card or fob system that logs every entry.
3. Monitored Duress System: Panic buttons or lanyards that connect to a live security provider, not just a local alarm."

"At Gym Insurance Brokers, our easy insurance process involves reviewing your current safety systems against these requirements before we even get you a quote. There's no point paying for a policy if you don't meet its conditions."

Q3: "What is the biggest real-world risk insurers are worried about with 24/7 gyms?"

Graham: "It's two-fold. First is the 'catastrophic injury.' A member has a heart attack on a treadmill or is pinned during a late-night bench press with no one around to help. Your duress system is your only defence here.

"Second, and far more common, is 'tailgating.' A member lets their non-member friend in. That friend, who has never been inducted and hasn't signed a waiver, gets injured. They will sue you. Because they were never authorised to be there, your insurer will look to your access control system. If you can't prove you had adequate systems to prevent it, you may be held personally liable."

Q4: "I'm a small PT studio, not a large chain. Do these same rules apply to me?"

Graham: "Yes. The risk doesn't care about your size; it cares about the lack of supervision. In fact, for small PT studios, the risk can be higher as there's less chance of other members being around to help.

"The good news is that we have insurance programs for all types of facilities, from small PT studios to large 24/7 chains with hundreds of gyms. We also have specialist programs for martial arts clubs that might run 24/7 'open mat' sessions. We find the right fit for your specific operation."

Q5: "Why should I bother with a specialist broker? Can't I just find a cheaper policy online?"

Graham: "You can, but you'll be buying a lottery ticket, not an insurance policy. A generalist online form asks, 'What's your address?' and 'What's your revenue?' A specialist broker asks, 'What's your duress system monitoring company?' and 'What's your policy for new member inductions?'

"As you'll understand, the cheapest gym insurance is not always the best. Our job is to track down the most appropriate policy wording and then negotiate a competitive price. We provide expert fitness product advice and friendly, professional service. In the unlikely event of a claim, we're here to explain the process every step of the way. You don't get that from a website."

Have More Questions for Our Experts?

Choosing the right 24/7 insurance is about finding a partner who understands your business. If you're looking for a better product, a better price, or both, ask for a 'Gym health check quote'.

Gym Insurance Brokers is available when you need us.

GET A QUOTE: 03 8201 9908